1915-07-03 — Page 3

Supplement to the "China Mail"

CHINA ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING.

Trading With Germans In China.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The Report has been circulated to Members in advance. I need not there fore do more than refer to it in general terms. I would explain that our Annual Meeting is about a month later than usual this year, mainly owing to our Secretary, Mr. Wilcox, having had to carry on the work of his office single handed; we have given leave of absence for service in the Army to his assistant, Mr. Lambert.

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German trade has been conducted in China but the information has not bean thoroughly investigated and I am un- able to lay it before you to-day. The Committee will deal wish the matter and perhaps at some later date it will be able to communicate further information to you on this subject.

The Committee hope that in the light of later information the present Govern ment may see their way to take more whole hearted action in connection with traching with the enemy in China than appeared advisable to their predecessors.

You will see in the Report that we have taken a hand. in correcting the misrepresentations spread in Chins by our enemies and we hope the Chinese translation of our pamphlet will be widely circulated.

Before concluding I would offer our condolence to those of our Members at home and in China who have suffered irreparable losses and have to endure prolonged anxiety from this terrible. called upon to make the heaviest war. Some of our number have been sacrifices and I hope it may be some little consolation to those in far distant China to know that their old friends at home feel deep and heartfelt sympathy with them. (applause)

We have referred in the Report to the but of late freights have advanced Japanese claims on China, which at one enormously, and there has been more tine gave rise to some uneasiness in difficulty in getting ships to carry the this country owing to circumstantial cargo, than in getting cargo to fill the reports appearing in the Press of the far ships, so that this objection no longer reaching character of some of the dehas the same weight that it formerly mands. British subjects both here and may have had. Further we notice that in the East, being friends of both count France has recently prohibited trading the snemy in China. The ries, learnt with great satisfaction of the with conclusion of an Agreement between the French have no doubt about Germana two Governments. It is true that certain out there being enemies. LONDON, June 1.

As to the other reasons, it may be points are reserved for future discussion Undisturbed by the air raid on London but there is good reason to believe that quite true that German trade marks last night within a mile of the meeting Jupun is well aware of the importance would lose their value, if withdrawn place, the annual meeting of the China of the principles laid down in her from the Chinese market, but if buyers Association took place this afternoon at Treaties. and that in any future die China could not get British goods under the P. & 0. Offices. Mr. F. Anderson, cussion she will not depart from the German trade marks they would soon President, occupied the Chair and there policy she has repeatedly declared it her get the goods they wanted under British! wers, also present Sir Alfred Dent, Sir intention to uphold. At the siege of marks. From the strong representar- Walter Hillier, Mesars Byron Brenan, Kiuchow Japan gave a much needed ions made by all our branches in China, A. S. Garfit, T. H. Whitehead, H. W. lesson in chivalry and humanity to we are quite satisfied that there is no Robertson, J. Swire, E. J. Houle. H.J.C. Germany when she gave ample time and sound foundation for the statement that Jones, D. H. Macintosh, Leonard Kerr, opportunity for the women and children British firms are not capable of over- John C. Boi, W. Thurlow Lay, Hand non-combatants to leave the fortress taking the whole British trade with Wilcockson, T. W. Richardson. Clement before beginning the bombardment and China without the participation in it of F. R. Allen, Paul II. King, 3. G. Wood, I think we may rely upon Japan main German firms. There would perhaps C. H. Ross, R. Chatterton Wilcox, Gtaining the highest standard of honour be some change in the method of carry- Jamieson, C. Selby Moore, R. t. Hill, regard to any engagements to which ing on the trade, but it would be a healthy change, and one beneficial to George B. Dodwell, H. II: Joseph, F. J. she has attached her signature. Abbott, D. C. Rutherford, F. Salinger, Members will have been glad to British interests generally in China. William D. Litttle, J. C. Hanson, J. Rlearn that the long outstanding question "Quite recently some very remarkable, Michael, J. S. Haskell. E. F. Carroll, of Shanghai Settlement extension has and interesting information has been W. Harwood, H. D. Stewart. F. G. Sale, at last been satisfactorily dealt with.received by us about the way in which W. B. Wickham, H. Salinger, E. Cousins, Every friend of China hopes that the and H. C. Wilcox. (Secretary). ***

Mr. F. Anderson, in his Presidential arrangement will result in the total disappearance of the friction which so address, said:-

ofter prevailed in the relations between the Municipality and the Local Chinese Authorities. The Chinese are as deeply interested as foreigners in the prosperity of Shangbai, and they have now an opportunity of wurking together in friendly co-operation for the general welfare which may prove invaluable, if they will only take advantage of it in the right spirit. You will notice in the Appendix a lengthy correspondence on the subject of trading with the enemy; Notwithstanding the terrible struggle matter which is still under discussion. in which this country is engaged 80 The Committee believe that in the line close to our own doors, events in the they have taken up they have the sup- Far East have by no means passed port not only of all British subjects in unnoticed. Whilst Western countries

China, but that an overwhelming over an immense area are being shaken majority in this country of those who to their very foundations, China has had have considered the question also agree to deal with serious problems of her with them. Apart altogether from own, both internal and external. From German hatred of England, apart froin time to time situations arose which German fiendish brutality in war, from might have resulted in disaster had the fact that it has been necessary to weakness and irresolution been shewn expel Germans from Singapore and in dealing with then, but the discretion Hongkong, apart from the virulent and and ability with which her Government mischievous propaganda they have acted under trying conditions have encarried on against us in China, from hanced its prestige, and have done much the fact that German merchants at to inspire confidence in the prescut Shanghai have collectively resolved to Chinese administration. It should be do everything in their power to injure borne in mind that only a year ago the British interests in China, from pitiable Government had not suppressed the no- incidents like their celebration in torious "White Wolf," disorder was Tientsin of the Sinking of the Lusitania widespread in many provinces-a kind of carried, on, until 6 o'clock in the morn- aftermath of the revolution-intrigue ing, and apart from the natural re- On the motion of the Chairman, and conspiracy were rife in the Capital, pugance to having any dealings with seconded by Mr. Byron Brenan, Mr. many of the Provincial Governments the enomies of our country, we think it

George Jamieson was re-elected Presi hampered the Central Authority by is bad policy in our own interests to dent with acclamation. Mr. Jamieson Obstructive tactics and by withholding help Germans to maintain their com supplies, whilst foreign relations in cer-mercial position in China, as we have proposed and Mr. C.H. Ross seconded tain quarters were becoming complicat been doing for the last ten months. the election of Mr. F. Anderson as od. In weak hands the affairs of the The Board of Trade has expressed Chairman of Committee, Mr. R.H. country would in all probability have the opinion that in the national Hill as vice-chairman, and Mr. R.C. drifted into chaos. Now whether it is interest it is undesirable that British Wilcox as hon. treasurer, and this was true or not. in ordinary times that iu subjects should trade with Germans the multitude of counsellors there is in Chins, during the war, the

On the motion of the Chairman, wisdom," experience has shewn race Prize Court at Alexandria has decided seconded by Mr. F. J. Abbott, the elected as more, and not only in China, that ata that as Germans in China are only General Committee was time of national crisis it is essential for amenable to German law, they cannot follows-Baron Inchcape of Strath- the welfare of the State to concentrate claim a neutral domicile in that country, aver, G.C.M.G., K.C.I.E, Sir Thomss power in the hands of one rational bat are in the same legal position as Jackson, Rt. Hon. Sir Cecil C. Smith, central authority. The great mass of Germans resident in German territory, P.OG.C.M.G., Sir Thomas Sutherland, the people of China quickly realized yet under the Trading with the G.C.M.G. Sir. Wafter Hillier K.C.M.G., that patriotism and common sense alike Eaemy Act, British subjects are not demanded that they should support the only permitted,

but the declared C.B., Sir. Alfred Dent K.C.M.C., Sir government of Yuan-Shi-Kai, if disaster.undesirability" notwithstanding, they Claudo Macdonald, Sir. Charles Du were to be averted. and the course of are almost encouraged to trade with geon, Mesars F. Anderson, John C. events has justified the wisdom of their Derinan firma in Ching, on the plea bois, Byron Brenan, C.M.G., F. Cornes, decision. Disorder has been suppressed, that a German is not an enemy if he George B. Dodwell, R.S. Gandry C.B., legislation on conservative lines has lives outside German territory, Ger- W. Burwood, J.6. Haskell, R. H. Hill, been enacted, the authority of Pekingmans have gone so far in the past as to G. Jamieson C.M.G., H.D.C. Jones, over the Provinces has been re-establish claim that their concessions in China HH. Jospeh, W.D. Little, C. Selby ed, judicious fiscal reforms have been are German territory, but our law Moore, H. W. Robertson, C.H. Ross, inaugurated, and the first step towards ignores their claim. The arguments in D.C. Rutherford, Charles V. Sale, F the esshment of a permanent con-favour of permitting trading with alien Salinger, Gershom Stewart M.P, H.D. stitution has been taken in the pro enemies in China are mainly

Stewart, W.. Strachan, A.M, Town- send, T.H. Whitebead, B. Chatterton mulgation of what is known" 19||

Wilcox, and A.G. Wood Constitutional Compact"a translation of which interesting and important do cument will be found in the Report. Evidence of the confidence inspired by the Administration may be seen in the fact that two internal loan-bave been successfully floated in China at a time when the money markets of the Western world have been practically closed owing to the war. Concurrently with all this the foreign affairs of the country have been sa handled that the danger of com plications arising has been minimised, and we hope will be entirely averted. In the past year statesmen all over the world have had to bear a heavy burden of responsibility. The President of the Chinese Republic bas been no exception to the general rule. Few men in the whole world have had a more difficult and As regards our Allies not co-operat onerous role to fill, or have chewning, the Committee at first agreed that greater Brgatity in dealing with this might be a disadvanage to some difficulties.

British shipping and banking interests

The

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That our Allies have not pro hibited their nationals from trading with Germans.:'

That German trade marks on British goods would lose their value

On the motion of the Chairman seconded by Mr. Goarge B. Dodwell' the report and accounts wore adopted':

agreed to..

In reply to questions by Mr. H. Ha son, Me F. Salinger and Mr. F. Bale, the Chairman said that so far as they know none of their members were

if they were withdrawn from the dealing with the enemy in Chios. If Chinese markets afid that therefore any member had any suggestion where British goods shipped under those by such trading could effectively be stop- German tharks would lose their

ped the Committee would gladly market:

consider it. He understood that the Government was endeavouring to secure united sction on the part of the Allies on the matter.

That the same volume of trade with China could not be carried on il German firms were prohibited from getting supplies in England as British firms alone could not over- take the whole British trade with Chins.

The questioners arged that the Government should be pressed to pro- hibit definitely trading with Germane In China,

A vote of thanks to Mr. Anderson for his conduct as Chairman of the meeting concluded the proceerlinge,